§ MR. J. F. MASON (Windsor)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give a list of the Royal Commissions, Select Committees, Joint Committees, and Departmental Committees appointed and announced by the Government; and what is the estimated cost of these inquiries during 1906–7.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The notice given me by the hon. Member has not been sufficient to enable me to prepare a complete Answer; but, so far as I am aware, the Afforestation and Foreshore Commission is the only one which has been announced, but has not yet been appointed by the Government. The names of most of the Royal Commissions and Departmental Committees at present appointed will be found in the Estimate for Temporary Commissions, Vote 1, of Class VII., in the Civil Service Estimates for 1906–7. A few, however, have been omitted because the expenditure likely to be incurred by them in 1906–7 appeared to be trifling, if anything at all. These are the War Stores and Motor Cars Commissions, the Small Holdings, Agricultural Settlements, Expenditure on Education, and Royal Hibernian Academy Committees. The cost of the Commissions and Committees not shown in the Estimate is included in the margin of £12,659 for contingencies, provided under Subhead L. The Select Committees which have been appointed to date are, so far as I am aware, Education (Provision of Meals) Bill, House of Commons Procedure, Butter, Post Office Employés, Police and Sanitary, Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms, Public Petitions, Selection, and Public Accounts Committees, the last four being sessional. The cost of these Select Committees is borne on the House of Commons Vote, but it has not been the practice to estimate for them specifically. With regard to that part of the Question which deals with Departmental Committees, I have no information to give the hon. Member, as these Committees may be appointed by the Department concerned without the knowledge of the Treasury, and their expenses are borne on the Department's own Vote.